wordsower

That's right CWJ!! Preach it!! AMEN HALLELUJIA (I'm glad at least we know we're saved--always!)

Munari, I came from a religion where I had to do things I didn't want to and "like it"........... I HATED IT!!! I prefer to think God puts in us the desire to do His will once we surrender our life to Him. I'm doing things I never thought I'd do and LOVING IT! It's not about rules and regulations, it's about having a renewed mind, the mind of Christ, that only God can give us. Our righteousness is like filthy rags. God doesn't want us to do any works except the works that He works through us to further the kingdom.

A God that would predestin someone to hell is not the God I serve. Just because God knows the beginning to the end doesn't mean we don't have a choice in the period in time that we make that choice. He does know how it will pan out but He didn't make the choice that made the result what it will be. He said, I would that ALL be saved. If someone were predestined to be saved then why would the angels have cause to rejoice over a sinner that is brought to Christ. Predestination is a false doctrine and a ridiculous one. It makes the sacrifice of Christ of no effect.

Jeremiah, How many christians do you think there are in this world? Narrow is the gate doesn't seem so narrow if you live in a free country.

Jeremiah7, I am certainly not saying that anything is ok. My point was that when you try to put faith in yourself to be "good" you will be doing a lot of doing just for the sake of doing it. If you put your faith in Jesus, on the other hand, He will do the doing through you and you will WANT to do it instead of HAVING to do it. As for those who have idols and whatever else they have, everyone is on their own individual walk with God and He deals with them on issues that He needs to bring them closer to Him. Doesn't mean their any less saved than anyone who "acts" perfect. I prefer to let Him be the judge. :thumb:

I never believed in once saved always saved until very recently. I grew up in "church" but I didn't know Jesus. I thought once saved always saved meant you could do whatever you wanted and be saved. Of course that sounds ridiculous! John 10:26-29 says: But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of my hand. Now, when I was not His sheep, I had no conviction of anything in my life except the heresies I was taught as a child. I didn't walk in love, I didn't act like a christian except for one day a week, I loved to watch horror movies, party at the clubs, drink, and act like the rest of the world. From the moment I got saved, the Holy Spirit entered into my life and I honestly don't WANT to do any of those things. I KNOW that if I mess up and sin, God is not giving up on me and taking my salvation away. I am positive that I am saved! If I sin and get into a car wreck before I get a chance to ask for forgiveness, I know I'm still going to heaven. It seems like, since we have free choice, we could make a decision to give our salvation back, but I can't imagine ever wanting to do that. Jesus said, If they went out from us, they were not with us to begin with, that has to do with those like Judas, who appear to be christians but have their own agenda or selfish purposes for being christian. Those who think they can lose their salvation, put your trust in Him and He will faithfully complete the good work which He has started in you!

I used to be this way when I was a kid and my parents made me go to church and it wasn't on my own conviction. Since I actually made my own decision to accept salvation I really strive to be the same everyday around everyone. My husband, however is a new christian and still tends to think that christians are perfect or should act perfect. He says things like, "so and so did such and such and they go to our church! (Like they're hypocrites) I tell him church is not for perfect people. If they were perfect they wouldn't need to be there. Just praise God they go and let Him worry about their behaviour.

The devil has not accepted Christ as his Saviour. He does not want to be saved. I disagree with the comment that he doesn't know he is doing anything wrong. He knows and he loves it. He is evil. Salvation is not something you can work for. It is a free gift, so if you can't do anything to get it, you can't do anything to lose it either. At the moment that you accept Christ into your life, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, sealing you for the day of redemption. David, strayed from God, he sinned hidiously. He was apart from God for a year. But when he came back he repented of his sin and asked God to restore the JOY of his salvation, not his salvation. He was still saved even though he was in sin and God did not just give up on him. Jonah left the presence of God and sinned. God saw fit to throw him in the belly of a whale to get his attention and call him to repentance. If you are a child of God, He does not leave you, you are in the family forever. You may stray but He will work on you in whatever means necessary to bring you back. Praise God for His grace! I am indeed saved, today, tomorrow and forever!

You gotta point there :thumb: I just started reading Genesis again and I already passed the flood but haven't come up on the tower yet

Absolutely not! Your spirit is gonna live off of what ya feed it

rollinTHUNDER, If it's any consolation, I've been studying into the EU and I appreciate your insight. I think there's a lot to it. Just wish I understood more about it!

I think you're on the right track with the EU! :thumb:

Wow Xan, Thanks for the info!! I recently threw some of them at my asst. pastor and he suggested I make an appt. with the senior pastor

Here's a good site www.evidenceofgod.com I know there is a book there with the same title that lists every prophecy fulfilled and it might all be on the site too.

I think the dinosaurs drowned in the flood because they couldn't fit on the ark. No biblical evidence, just a thought. As far as Nethanderals (sp?), Genesis 6:4 says there were giants in those days-David killed Goliath. Questions I have are....Where did Cain get his wife from? The land of Nod, I know, but where was that? Was she his relative? If everyone came from Adam and Eve then she had to be, everyone says we all came from them but I can't find that in the Bible. If it's true, I'm sure it's there somewhere, and if so, how did we get so many colors? The tower of Babel seems to be the popular explanation for that but it doesn't say anything about nationalities, only languages.